Living Cost Compare
Bangor

Maine

$1,210/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Bangor, ME versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bangor, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,096 in Bangor, ME and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 4% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bangor, ME
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$800
$798
+0% in Bangor, ME
1 Bedroom
$889
$782
+12% in Bangor, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,136
$984
+13% in Bangor, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,100
+10% in Bangor, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$206,300
$169,700
+18% in Bangor, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$58,096
$60,293
+4% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,960
$47,700
+1% in Bangor, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.7 yr
35.0 yr
+5.7 yr in Bangor, ME
Homeownership
46.9%
62.2%
+15.3 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.3%
28.5%
+7.8 pp in Bangor, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
21.4 min
+4.4 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
161.4
308.9
+91% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
4,259.8
2,245.4
+47% in Bangor, ME

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
50.5°F
+6.2°F in Fort Wayne, IN
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
38.3 in
+3.6 in in Bangor, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Bangor, ME

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
17.5
+41% in Bangor, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.62
$24.52
+22% in Bangor, ME

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bangor, ME
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Bangor, ME
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Bangor, ME
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bangor, ME

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ME / IN)
5.5%
7%
+1.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
7.15%
2.95%
+4.2 pp in ME

Bangor vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bangor or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Bangor, ME's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bangor than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Bangor versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Bangor or Fort Wayne?
Bangor is taxed under Maine's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).